Cloning Redwoods; Herding Goats; Giving For Cats: Saturday Smiles

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Take a break this weekend, and check out some Northern California stories to brighten your day.

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San Ramon Valley: Reigning NCS Football Champs

• Congrats to the Wolves for a dazzling win that's captured the attention of social media.

'Giving Tree' Supports Kitties In Need In Contra Costa

• Shoppers can purchase ornaments at Rescued Treasures shop in Walnut Creek to raise funds for Community Concern for Cats' hospital.

Livermore Lab Employees Raise $3.7M For Charities

• “This is a testament of our employees’ commitment to making a positive impact in our local and surrounding communities.”

'Parking For Hope' Kicks Off In Santa Cruz

• For eight days, funds from parking meters will be donated to the Hope Project, a non-profit that supports developmentally disabled adults.

Goat Herding In The East Bay Hills: Photos

• In the early morning light, this Peruvian immigrant tends goats with the help of his border collies.

Deputies Rescue Wayward Pig In Boulder Creek

• Police fashioned a leash to help keep Pickles safe until she could be reunited with her family.

Sheriff’s Office Fundraiser Will Provide ‘Bikes For Butte’

• Find out how you help buy helmets, bicycles and other play equipment for children affected by the devastating Camp Fire.

Anonymous Donor Gives $2K In Gift Cards To Shop With Cop Program

• "Thank you to this selfless and gracious citizen. We are very grateful."

Nature Pavilion To Soon Enhance Shadow Cliffs Rec Area

• Groundbreaking planned for spring on $900K project that will provide shade for gatherings, along with exhibits, info on trails, activities.

SF Giants Coach Elected To Hall Of Fame

• He's third on the all-time list for saves by pitchers in Major League Baseball.

Your New BFF Is Half-Price In December At Santa Cruz Shelter

• Adoptions of dogs, cats, puppies, kitties and bunnies at Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter are at reduced rate all month.

State Title: Laney College Best In CA

• Laney won the state community college football championship on Saturday.

Teens Gather For Regional Dodgeball Tournament In El Cerrito

• A no-holds-barred contest capped the day-long Police Explorer dodgeball tournament that brought 20 teams to El Cerrito.

Crab Feeds 2018-19: SF Bay Area Guide To All-You-Can-Eat Feasts

• Time to get crackin' and save your seats at these popular, annual fundraisers throughout the San Francisco region.

FHS Model United Nations Team Wins At International Competition

• The competition was held in New York in November.

Castro Valley Student Wins $500 Scholarship

• The Castro Valley High student took third place in a statewide video contest.

6 Berkeley High Student Athletes Sign College Letters Of Intent

• Their sports include soccer, baseball, rowing, tennis and volleyball. Two will attend Ivy League schools.

Late Fees Eliminated At Contra Costa County Libraries

• Currently 18 percent of library cards are blocked due to fines including 21,000 youth cards.

Alameda Students Donate Books, Encouragement To Wildfire Victims

• And here's how you can "Adopt a Classroom" in Paradise where multiple schools burned to the foundations.

Groundbreaking Ceremony For Memory Care, Assisted Living Facility

• Construction of Elegance at Dublin is expected to be complete by the end of 2019.

Homes For Foster Children Needed In Marin County

• "They all need and deserve a safe, loving, and consistent place to live where they can thrive and mature."

Agricultural Representative Sought For Marin County Committee

• Expenditures on farmland preservation are among the duties of the Marin County Parks Measure A Community Oversight Committee.

Best Restaurants In California: OpenTable's 2018 List

• The online restaurant reservation site has unveiled the 100 best restaurants in America. See the best in California.

Bohart Museum's One-Of-A-Kind Calendar Draws Laughs

• UC Davis professor Lynn Kimsey has long collected her students' "strange, funny and odd" essay answers. They are now compiled in a calendar.

UC Davis Doctoral Candidate Wins International Competition

• Looking ahead, Jessica Gillung has accepted a postdoctoral position at Cornell University.

WATCH: Happy Holidays From Deployed Vacaville Service Member

• A holiday shoutout to all her friends and family back home in Vacaville.

• A video shoutout from Afghanistan to everyone back home at Travis Air Force Base.
  

• "Napa Green makes a positive impact on the whole Napa Valley,” Vintner Bruce Cakebread said following the recent Sacramento awards ceremony.

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--Image via Diane Springer